Colin can you shed some light on racial tensions during those days? I have seen so many interviews with young mod boys with not that different views as some skinheads had like in that video that was just posted. And not that strange since a lot of those boys come from the same working class background and estates.
Anyone seen this little docu about Glasgow's gang problem from 1967, similar to the one Bunty posted months back since it also features the Easterhouse gang but it's not the same footage, all different footage:http://vimeo.com/35847452

To be honest here,the same thoughts were around in the early 60s-as later.The West Indian Population was regarded as the same as us(though in the 50s you had the Riots with the Teddy Boys).They wore the same Clothes and seemed Educated in the same way as us(the British Empire was slowly disentegrating around `64).The West Indian Parents were very strict(and Religious) in those days.In my Class alone,we had German,Jewish,Irish,Black and Italian Boys-but no Asians.This was another thing,the Asians did not venture out of their Neighbourhoods,so there was no mixing.Also a high percentage of them were older Males coming over(a bit like today,with the other Migrants).The Families came later,this exasperated the already homeless People looking for accommodation.Do not forget,in those days you had the likes of Rachmann who terrorised their Tenants.

Their was Race Riots in 1958 Notting Hill London..with the Teddy Boys and Blacks, All those years ago people was against Mass Immigration, Look at us now.

I see today,there is no limits being put on "Migrant Workers" in Lincolnshire.There is already a 40% rise in the Population(in the that Area alone).Look around the Country Towns of that Region and you would think you are in Eastern Europe.That was the same feeling as in the 60s.

Just found this photo on Facebook, young smoothies in Shepherd's Bush market apparently:

"Way back in 1972 this was a trojan record sleeve snapped in shepherds bush market, i knew the leader here, peter, who went on, 20 years later, to be the partner of patrick cann in arawak records, they of klik music fame, who put out the dread locks dread album by big youth.........so there...........where's my crombie?...smoothies rule.

Really stupid question: What defines a crombie coat? Or more like, what traits makes it differ from Any generic coat? Cut? Pockets? Buttons? Shape?

Well crombie just comes from the brand that popularised that coat, Three quarter length usually fly fronted, flapped pockets sometimes a ticket pocket as well although could come with not fly fronted, velvet on the collar, bright lining usually red etc. I prefer straight down more classic boxy shape then the really tailored or ones that go in at the waist.

Nice Photo of some smoothies there, just started following a blog online on Faceache some of you might like called 'Ballroom Blitz' which posts some good photos link here to page : http://theballroomblitz.wordpress.com/ and facebook page here :http://www.facebook.com/TheBallroomBlitz?fref=ts not linked in any way to the owner or creator but might be of interest to some. Covers generically everything 60's and 70's i think, but does feature most posts on reggae and skinheads.

Not strictly skinhead/suede, but very much like a burgandy version of the leather 'black bomber' seen in a few early photos. Still like it though, quite smart and £29 quid whos complaining ? Best steal for me this month

As people have said Crombie is the make of the coat, No 60s Skinhead ever wore a genuine Crombie, In the early days you could only get them Made to Measure, They was made from heavy wool.. well waisted, with maroon or red lining, we would ask the Tailor to give us a cut off from the lining to make a top pocket hanky.
Later cheap off the peg crombie style coats was available in shops and the local markets.

The heavy wool Crombie was a excellent warm coat that was worn long after the Skinheads had ended in London.

As people have said Crombie is the make of the coat, No 60s Skinhead ever wore a genuine Crombie, In the early days you could only get them Made to Measure, They was made from heavy wool.. well waisted, with maroon or red lining, we would ask the Tailor to give us a cut off from the lining to make a top pocket hanky.
Later cheap off the peg crombie style coats was available in shops and the local markets.
The heavy wool Crombie was a excellent warm coat that was worn long after the Skinheads had ended in London.

Bought mine from Stone-Dri (think for about £12 - obviously not a 'real' Crombie), I remember they had them displayed on a dummy in the window with a big star on it advertising 'Free silk hanky', when I bought it I asked 'Where's the free silk hanky?' The shop assistant then pulled out the lining of the pocket and formed the 'hanky' - think I was the biggest dummy in the shop then.

I also remember it was wrapped up in brown paper and tied up with string, couldn't wait to get it home and rip it open - it was like Christmas... come to think of it, think it was Christmas.

Bought mine from Stone-Dri (think for about £12 - obviously not a 'real' Crombie), I remember they had them displayed on a dummy in the window with a big star on it advertising 'Free silk hanky', when I bought it I asked 'Where's the free silk hanky?' The shop assistant then pulled out the lining of the pocket and formed the 'hanky' - think I was the biggest dummy in the shop then.
I also remember it was wrapped up in brown paper and tied up with string, couldn't wait to get it home and rip it open - it was like Christmas... come to think of it, think it was Christmas.

Spot on mate, Pulling the lining up to form a hanky, also wearing a stud was at first to stop girls pulling your hanky out the top pocket and throwing it over their shoulders as they walked off:)
Then i suppose the stud became fashion.

This is me wearing a Paul Smith.. made in Italy Crombie style coat, Like a real crombie.. hopeless in cold weather.

Very nice coat! One of the reasons i asked was that was sorting thru my closets the other week, and i found a coat i haven't been using for years, mostly due to the lining and pockets being somewhat wrecked. I felt somewhat attached to the coat, having had it for some time, i bought it incredibly cheap in H&M, where i usually cannot find anything of quality that fits me, but that coat, must have been 5-6 years since i bought it. And due to it being very nice apart from the broken lining and pockets i dropped it off at my mother in law, who's a...err, what, do you call a female tailor? Tailoress? Tailorette? ;) She fixed it

You dont see it all that well, but it's not a boxy type of coat, sort of hugs the shape of me, in a way. And the ticket pocket is, if i dont remember wrong, fake.

Very nice coat! One of the reasons i asked was that was sorting thru my closets the other week, and i found a coat i haven't been using for years, mostly due to the lining and pockets being somewhat wrecked. I felt somewhat attached to the coat, having had it for some time, i bought it incredibly cheap in H&M, where i usually cannot find anything of quality that fits me, but that coat, must have been 5-6 years since i bought it. And due to it being very nice apart from the broken lining and pockets i dropped it off at my mother in law, who's a...err, what, do you call a female tailor? Tailoress? Tailorette? She fixed it

You dont see it all that well, but it's not a boxy type of coat, sort of hugs the shape of me, in a way. And the ticket pocket is, if i dont remember wrong, fake.